The StarTarot Card Meaning and Keywords

The Star is the 17th Major Arcana tarot card and represents healing from loss and experiencing a sense of reconnection to nature and to oneself. The Star reminds us that we are inextricably connected to the natural world and the celestial heavens above and that this connection provides a sense of meaning and perspective to our lives.

The image of a woman pouring two water vessels back onto land is a persistent visual motif of this card’s corresponding zodiac sign, Aquarius, which is associated with the element of water and known in horoscopes as “The Water Bearer.” In Ancient Egypt, the Water-Bearer’s vessel was said to have caused the flooding of the Nile river, which happened every summer at the time of the Aquarius Full Moon. Aquarius is connected to forward-thinking idealism, hope, and visions of unity.

The Star Keywords

Description of The Star Tarot Card

The destruction in The Tower card stripped The Star of her social persona and material attachments, bringing her to a purer state. This card presents us with a vision of emergence, renewal, and hope. She pours water from two vessels, one into a small pool of water and the other onto fertile dry land. In contrast to Temperance, which symbolizes balance, The Star pours her water in one direction, symbolically releasing energy from the conscious to the unconscious.

In the classic Rider Waite tarot deck, she is surrounded by the heavenly firmament, embedded within the context of the land and the starry night sky. A large star hovers above seven smaller stars symbolizing the chakras. The eight points on each of the eight stars reference a compass, a fixed guiding principle that remains available to us in times of uncertainty.

For millennia, the stars have acted as humanity’s great GPS system in the sky, both for external voyages (as used by mariners) as well as internal voyages (as used by astrologers). The stars link us to deep time and remind us of our connection to the larger cosmos we inhabit. In this way, The Star signals a light at the end of the tunnel while complementing The Moon’s celebration of imagination, dreams, and the unconscious.

In the background, an Ibis bird perches on a tree, which references the  Ancient Egyptian god Thoth, the bird-headed deity of knowledge and wisdom. This represents the emergence of new opportunities symbolizing hope and renewal.

The Star Upright Meaning

The Star can signal a time of renewed hope, faith, and optimism following a period of loss or challenge. It can signify regaining strength after enduring an ordeal, either emotionally or physically. It suggests a focus on healing and encourages tending to your emotional, physical, and spiritual health. When you feel replenished, you’ll be able to give freely to others (symbolized by her pouring water from her vessels).

This card can signal a deep sense of feeling connected to a larger cosmic pattern, nature, or the world around you. If you’ve recently been in a period of isolation or grief, this card signals a change where you can start to reconnect to life and to yourself again. Feeling connected to a larger whole can shed light on suffering and make it more bearable.

The verdant hills, budding flowers, and ibis bird all represent new life and the emergence of new opportunities which restore hope and optimism in the future. It is an encouragement to cultivate connection in all forms with an open heart and vulnerability.

Love and Relationships (Upright Meaning)

Love readings with an upright Star suggest that you’re entering a period of emotional renewal in your relationship following a time of difficulty. Now that the storm has passed, you can focus on healing, reconnection, and restoration. There is a sense of optimism and faith in the future and the possibility of nurturing a bond with another based on a deep and soulful connection.

Following the destruction in The Tower, The Star has nothing to lose and opens to life with a clear heart. She symbolizes approaching relationships with emotional vulnerability and openness and giving freely to those who you’re in relationship with.

Career and Finance (Upright Meaning)

In the upright position of a tarot card reading, The Star suggests a feeling of deep alignment with and connection to your work. There is the sense that your work fulfills some part of your deeper purpose, and this feeling of connection encourages you to share your gifts freely with the world. Your work allows you to give back to the collective, even if in seemingly small ways.

It reminds you of the wisdom you possess within and the inner light that guides you forward. It can speak to fields of work that involve spiritual or intuitive guidance and work fueled by humanitarian or social ideals. It signals a time when you can embrace new opportunities that feed your soul and your desire to do meaningful work.

The Star Reversed Meaning

In the reverse position of a tarot spread, The Star can indicate that you are feeling depleted and that you’re taking time to focus on restoring yourself either emotionally or physically. You could be experiencing a period of illness, health challenges, or emotional difficulty, and this card may be an encouragement to put greater focus and attention on your healing through better self-care.

The Star reversed can symbolize feeling disconnected from yourself, others, or the larger world around you. Feelings of depression or a lack of faith could be making it difficult to see the opportunities for connection that are available to you. You can reconnect to an inspiring vision of life when you see yourself as a meaningful part of the larger whole.

It can also indicate that your perspective has become skewed and that you’ve lost sight of the bigger picture of your life. If you are neglecting your inner needs and focusing exclusively on the concerns of the mundane world, this card is an encouragement to connect to what is eternal within you and to engage in activities that feed your spirit, inspire you, and engage your senses.

Love and Relationships (Reversed Meaning)

A tarot reading with The Star in the reverse position can indicate that you’re feeling depleted and that there’s a feeling of tension in your relationship as a result. If so, it’s an encouragement to focus on solitude, reflection, and refilling your own cup emotionally. Making time for journaling, being in nature, or connecting to what inspires you can allow you to come back to your relationship feeling renewed.

Career and Finance (Reversed Meaning)

In the reverse position, The Star suggests that the demands of your work are wearing down your spirit and causing an imbalance of energy. If you’re pouring yourself into your work but not feeling fairly compensated or feeling the energy of reciprocation, this card can signal that it’s important to advocate for your needs.

It can also signify that your work doesn’t feel inspiring anymore or that you’ve lost a sense of vital connection to it. You could be focusing solely on material gains but ignoring your desire for deeper purpose, connection to others, or the ability to give back in some way. This card asks you to consider what nourishes your life force and to try and infuse your work with this spirit of vitality.